Jimmy Kimmel returned to ABC for a second night in a row after a suspension that ignited a national debate about free speech, using his late-night platform to deliver an extended critique of President Donald Trump.
Kimmel claimed that people wanted him yanked off the air for making jokes about Donald Trump. Of course, this is a tenuous argument. Countless people tell jokes about Trump on the air.
As the Disney statement made clear, he was suspended for making “insensitive” comments at a time of heightened national tensions. This was also misleading, given that the controversy involved him knowingly spreading a dangerous hoax that one of the “MAGA gang” had assassinated conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
Tyler Robinson, according to investigators, was radicalized by extreme leftist views.
The clash between the comedian and the White House has now spilled over into the television industry, with major ABC affiliates refusing to air Kimmel’s show despite the network’s decision to reinstate him.
Kimmel responded directly to Trump’s Truth Social post, in which the president wrote, “I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back.” On air, Kimmel quipped, “You can’t believe they gave me my job back? I can’t believe we gave you your job back!”
